Working in Estonia
Foreign nationals living in Estonia according to a residence permit are usually allowed to work in Estonian without an additional work permit. Since 01.09.2013 separate work permits are not issued. The right to work is set in the Aliens Act.
NB! Foreign nationals who are given extensions of residence permit in existence of legal income are not allowed to work in Estonia.
Working without a residence permit
Short-term employment in Estonia is allowed for up to 9 months in a year. A foreign national can work short-term in Estonia if he arrives to or stays in Estonian under a visa or a visa waiver program and:
- the employment is registered with a prefecture of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Police and Border Guard Board. Registration of short-term employment in Estonia can be applied for by the employer or;
- a managing or supervising role as a member of management body of a legal entity registered in Estonia is carried.
European Union citizen’s right to work
A citizen of the European Union, a member state of the European Union Economic Area and Swiss Confederation (hereinafter an EU citizen) has a right to stay in Estonia on the basis of a valid travel document or an identity card for the period of up to three months without registration of the right of residence.
EU citizens family members can work in Estonian only in case they have the right of residence (either temporary or long-term).
